Can-opening device



June 3, 1952 M. C. BELL CAN OPENING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1951llllllll'l v INVENTOR. MICHAEL c. BELL ATTORNEK Patented June 3, 1952 iUNITED STATES {'ATNT orrice Michael C. Bell, Milwaukee, Wis. ApplicationApril 5, 1951, Serial No. 219,447

3 Claims. (Cl. 30-55) My invention relates to can openers, and moreparticularly to a can opener for cutting or shearing the top portion ofa can.

An object of my invention is to provide a shearing blade that will cutor shear a semi-circular opening into the top of the can around theinner peripheral surface of its outer wall.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed that will permit a maximum amount of leverage during thecutting or shearing operation.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device that may beconstructed in various sizes to fit the type of can to which it is to beapplied.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed that is constructed with a separate handle that is adaptablefor use with any size of shearing blade.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device that maybe safely manipulated by the operator without the danger of slippage.

It is manifest to anyone familiar with the art, that the conventionalblade-type can opener leaves a jagged edge which creates a hazard, whilethe revolving-blade type of opener requires the can or the device to berotated during its manipulation. With the device illustrated, speciliedand claimed herein, it is merely necessary for the operator to clamp thedevice into position on the can and apply only downward pressure on thehandle while the can is held in a fixed position during themanipulation, thereby permitting the shearing of a smooth, clean,semi-circular cut through the cover around the inner edge of the can,and providing a large opening to permit accessibility to the contents ofthe can.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent asthe description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawing inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the handle and blade assembled, readyto apply to a can.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lever handle.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the semi-circular blade.

Figure 4 is a top or plan view of the blade and handle assembled.

Figure 5 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the device applied onto acan, ready for the shearing operation, and

Figure 6 is a view as shown in Figure 5 with the shearing blade insertedthrough the cover of the can.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and referring now to the same, the character I0 showsa blade of semi-circular contour, open at I I thereby providing twoends, each one equipped with an engaging hook shown as 12 and I2, theends being offset at l3 and i3. Opposite from the engaging hooks I2 andI2 is shown a contact point l4 which is at the bottom of a wider portion15 of the blade member. The lower edge of the blade member ID is taperedfrom the contact point l4 upward to a narrow point I6 and IS immediatelyadjacent the offset portions l3 and 13'.

The wide portion I5 of the blade member is provided with an elongatedslot [1 which extends through the blade, and immediately below the slotl1 in the blade, is shown an indentation 18 which extends inwardly fromthe face of the blade.

There is a handle l9, which is a separate unit constructed of metal orthe like, and which is 'shown provided with an embossed bead portion 20to provide rigidity to the handle structure. The handle 19 is offset at2| and terminates into a semi-radial section shown as 22. The handle isfolded back onto itself providing an oppositely disposed semi-radialsection 23 which terminates into a hook 24 at its extreme end.

In Figures 5 and 6, I show a conventional type of can 25 having sidewalls 26 and a cover 21. Obviously, the upper and lower peripheral edgesof the can 25 are folded over into a bead shown as 28.

In operation, it is only necessary to place the circular blade 10 on topof the cover 21 of the can 26 in a manner whereby the engaging hooks i2and I2 engage the bead 28 on the upper peripheral edge of the can 26.The contact point It rests on the top surface of the cover 21.

The radial section 23, with the hook member 24 of the handle 19, is nextinserted from the inner face of the blade ID, through the slot 11 in theblade l0, and the hook member 24 is placed below the head 28 on theouter periphery on the top of the can 25. The hook 24 will be disposedopposite from the engaging hooks I2 and I2, and as the lever I9 isforced downward, the portion 29 on the lever will contact the upper edgeof the blade-ill, thereby forcing the contact point 14 into and throughthe cover 21, allowing the tapered edge 30 of the blade in to cut asemi-circular path through the cover 21 of the can, and as the blade isforced downward to a position where the indentation of the blade 28 isbelow the edge of the cut portion of the can cover, it will contact thecut portion of the can cover 21 when the handle [9 is raised, and theblade I0 is removed from the can, thereby bringing the cut portion ofthe cover 21 out of the can and permitting ready access to the contentsof the can.

In the chosen embodiments of my invention,

there aremanyfeatures that identify the in stant invention' frorn theprior art, andfalthough';

I have shown a specific 'constructiorL'I am fully cognizant of the factthat many changes may be made in the structure of the device withoutde-' parting from the spirit of my invention or the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent the,

United States is:

l. A device of the character described comprising in combination, asemi-circular shearing blade anda handle, said bladeopen at one pointand provided with two separate ends, each of said-ends equipped withengaging hook members extending inwardlysaid blade provided withprovided with an inwardly disposed hook member, said blade provided witha slot disposed therethrough to accommodate said hook member in saidhandle, said blade further provided with a pair of inwardly engaginghooks in opposite relation to the hook in said handle when said handleis disposed in said slot, said blade having a contact point immediatelybelow said slot, delqwer hearine dg ta ered i mss tact point to saidengaging: hooks; saidfhandle being "radially disposed at one" end toprovide the contact of said handle with theupper edge of said blade whenpressure is applied to said handle.

, 3a A can opening device of the character described co'mprising incombination, a semi-circular blade havingetwo open narrow ends, each endprovided with engaging hooks extending inward,a contact point at thelower edge of said blade and tapering to said narrow open ends, saidsemi-'circularblade provided with'an-elongated slot extendingtherethrough "above said;

contact point, a lever handle folded against itself on oneendfandprovidedwith an inwardly extending hook, said handle insertedthrough said slot fromthe inside voutward, thereby causingsaid leverhandle to extend outwarvzlfrom the top edge of said. blade While thehookon said handle extends inward below. the top edge of said bladel MICHAELC. BELL No, references ;,cited.:

